,?^r^ 


;^^r 


REPORT 


82    PROVISIONAL  COMMITTEE  ON  FOREIGN  MISSIONS, 


PRESKNTKD   TO  THE 


6ciunil  ^sscmblir  of  tlje  Jpx^^^St^^i^^^^  Cljurtlj 


CONTEDERATE    STATES    OF    AMERICA, 


AUGUSTA,  GA.,  DECEMBER,  1861. 


COLUMBIA,  S.  C: 

SOUTHERN  GUARDIAN  STEAM-POWER  PRESS. 

1862. 


REPORT 


OF   THE 


PROVISIONAL  COMMITTEE  ON  FOREIGN  MISSIONS^  V 


PRESENTED   TO   THE 


6^nud  ^ssembl^  0f  Ijjc  ^rtsbjteriaii  Cfjurclj 


CONFEDERATE    STATES    OF    AMERICA. 

/ 


AUGUSTA,  GA.,  DECEMBER,  1861. 


COLUMBIA,   S.  C: 

SOUTHERN  GUARDIAN  STEAM-POWER  PRESS. 

1862. 


*'  ^  ">  >'i  o 


REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE. 


It  is  well  known  to  the  General  Assembly  under  what  circum- 
stances the  undersigned  assumed  the  responsibility  of  conducting  the 
work  of  Foreign  Missions  on  behalf  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian 
churches.  The  cords  which  formerly  held  Northern  and  Southern 
Christians  in  the  bonds  of  harmony  and  fra'ternal  love,  were  broken 
asunder,  and,  so  far  as  the  Southern  churches  wore  concerned,  all  the 
channels  through  which  their  united  benevolence  had  flowed,  were 
either  very  seriously  obstructed  or  entirely  cut  ofi".  In  relation  to  the 
Foreign  Missionary  work,  our  people  had  neither  the  disposition  nor 
the  facilities  for  further  cooperation  with  their  Northern  brethren. 
They  were  not  unmindful,  however,  of  their  obligations  to  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church,  or  of  the  responsibilities  that  had  been  incurred 
upon  the  common  faith  of  both  sections  of  the  Church.  They  were 
willing  to  sustain  their  full  share  of  the  common  burthen  j  and,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  this  was  assigned  them,  in  connection  with  the 
care  of  the  Indian  Missions,  and  in  the  support  of  such  Missionaries 
in  the  more  remote  field  as  had  gone  from  the  South.  At  the  same 
time,  the  Indian  Missions  were  cut  ofi"  from  all  further  connection 
with  the  Board  of  New  York,  and  would  have  been  entirely  broken 
up,  if  some  speedy  and  suitable  provision  had  not  been  made  for  sus- 
taining and  carrying  them  on. 

The  Committee  proposed  nothing  more  than  to  sustain  and  take  the 
control  of  these  Missions,  and  also  provide  for  the  support  of  the 
Missionaries  above  referred  to,  until  such  time  as  the  Church 
could  organize  and  take  the  whole  matter  into  her  own  hands. 

The  Address  sent  forth  to  the  Churches  in  the  early  part  of  June 
has  been  responded  to  with  gratifying  heartiness  and  liberality,  so 
that  the  Committee  have  had  ample  means  to  accomplish  all  that  was 
proposed.  The  receipts  from  all  sources  amount  to  $11,145  18,  being 
an  average  of  something  more  than  S2,000  per  month  since  the  issue 
of  the  Address.     When  the  circumstances  of  the  country  are  remem- 


P  /  ??  J  9 


bered,  this  will  be  regarded  as  very  encouraging  liberality,  and  calls 
for  devout  gratitude  to  Almighty  God,  for  inspiring  His  people  with  so 
much  interest  in  this  great  cause.  A  number  of  churches,  as  also  in- 
dividual members  of  the  churches,  have  contributed  more  largely  than 
they  ever  did  before,  even  in  the  most  prosperous  times,  showing,  it 
is  confidently  believed,  that  the  cause  has  taken  strong  hold  upon  the 
hearts  of  Southern  Christians,  and  inspiring  the  hope  that  they  will 
do  still  greater  things  when  the  circumstances  of  the  country  are 
more  favorable,  and  when  the  centre  of  Missionary  operations  is 
brought  nearer  to  their  homes. 

The  disbursements  have  been  as  follows,  viz  : 

For  the  support  of  Indian  Missions, $4,085  65 

Remitted  to  Missionaries  in  Siam,  China  and  Japan,  (in- 
cluding cost  upon  exchange,) 2,224  20 

Travelling  expenses  of  J.  L.  Wilson  to  the  Indian  country,      180  47 

Salary  of  J.  L.  Wilson,  appropriated  by  the  Committee 1,250  00 

Discount   on    uncurrent  money,   cost  of  collecting  drafts, 

postage,  &c 31  00 

Total $7,771  12 

This  leaves  in  the  Treasury  a  balance  of. $3,373  86 

The  cost  of  the  Indian  Missions  has  been  less  than  was  anticipated 
when  the  Address  to  the  Churches  was  sent  forth,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  great  body  of  the  teachers  left  the  country  about  that  time, 
or  very  soon  after,  and  there  was  no  occasion,  therefore,  to  provide  for 
their  support.  The  balance  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  will  be 
needed  for  the  Indian  Missions  at  once,  if  the  Assembly  assumes  the 
continued  care  of  them,  as  no  provision  has  been  made  for  their  sup- 
port beyond  the  close  of  the  present  year.  As  yet  the  Committee 
have  had  no  intelligence  from  the  Missionaries  in  the  foreign  field,  to 
whom  they  have  made  remittances,  nor  is  it  probable  that  there  will 
be  any  for  some  months  to  come.  They  have  no  knowledge,  therefore, 
of  their  circumstances,  of  their  views  of  the  great  strife  now  dividing 
our  land,  or  of  their  progress  in  the  great  work  to  which  they  have 
devoted  their  lives ;  and  they  can,  therefore,  lay  no  information  be- 
fore the  Assembly  on  any  of  these  points.  It  is  to  be  presumed, 
however,  that   they  are  faithfully  engaged  in  the  self-denying  work 


they  have  undertaken,  and  have,  therefore,  undiminished  claims  to  our 
confidence,  our  sympathies  and  our  prayers. 

In  relation  to  the  Missionary  work  among  the  Indians,  the  Com- 
mittee would  refer  the  Assembly  to  the  special  report  of  the  Commis- 
sioner who  has  visited  them,  which  accompanies  this,  and  is  intended 
as  a  part  of  the  report  of  the  Committee. 

With  this  brief  statement,  and  with  the  report  on  the  Indian  Mis- 
sions, the  Committee  now  tender  up  to  the  General  Assembly  the 
minutes  of  their  proceedings,  the  funds  in  their  hands,  and  all  the 
accounts  and  correspondence  pertaining  to  the  work,  with  expressions 
of  sincere  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  for  the  favor  He  has  bestowed 
upon  it  while  in  their  hands,  and  with  earnest  prayer  that  the  Great 
Head  of  the  Church  may  guide  the  General  Assembly  in  all  their 
plans  and  measures  in  relation  to  this  great  and  holy  enterprise. 
On  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

J.  LEIGHTON  WILSON. 


REPORT  ON  INDIAN  MISSIONS. 


It  will  be  remembered  that  very  serious  dfficulties  existed  in  the 
Indian  territory  a  few  mouths  since,  growing  out  oi"  the  national 
crisis  through  which  those  tribes  were  passing,  which  threatened  the 
expulsion  of  our  Missionary  brethren  there,  ^nd  the  complete  subver- 
sion of  their  work ;  and  that  a  Commission  was  appointed  by  the 
Convention  at  Atlanta,  consisting  of  Rev.  Charlton  H.  \Vilson  and 
myself,  to  visit  that  part  of  the  country,  for  the  purpose  of  convey- 
ing the  sympathies  and  Christian  salutations  of  the  Southern  Presby- 
terian Church  to  those  brethren,  and  of  allaying,  as  far  as  possible, 
the  excitement  among  the  Indians,  by  assuring  them  of  the  interest 
felt  by  the  Southern  churches  in  those  missions.  We  were  also 
directed  to  lay  the  results  of  this  visit  before  this  General  Assembly, 
which  we  now  propose  to  do.  Mr.  Wilson,  in  consequence  of  sick- 
ness in  his  family,  was  prevented  from  complying  with  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Convention.  Application  was  subsequently  made  to 
several  other  brethren,  well  known  to  the  churches,  to  take  his  place, 
but  without  success.  I  was  compelled,  therefore,  to  undertake  this 
responsible  duty  without  any  competent  adviser ;  but  the  result,  I 
trust,  realizes  all  that  was  anticipated  in  the  appointment  of  the  Com- 
mission. It  will  not  be  possible,  however,  to  give,  the  Assembly  an 
intelligible  idea  of  the  actual  state  of  things  in  the  Indian  country, 
without  introducing  some  preliminary  statements  in  relation  to  the 
general  condition  of  the  country,  as  well  as  the  mode  in  which  the 
Missionary  work  has  heretofore  been  prosecuted  among  that  people. 

THE   INDIAN    COUNTRY — ITS    SITUATION — ITS   POPULATION,   &e. 

The  South-Western  Indian  Territory,  as  it  is  usually  termed,  is 
situated  between  the  States  of  Arkansas  and  Texas,  being  bounded  on 
the  south  and  west  by  Texas,  on  the  east  by  Arkansas,  and  on  the 
north  by  Kansas.  In  extent,  it  is  nearly  as  large  as  the  State  of 
Arkansas,  and  for  fertility  of  soil,  abundance  of  water-courses,  healthi- 
ness of  climate,  and  beauty  of  natural  scenery,  it  is  surpassed  by  no 


portion  of  country  west  of  the  Mississippi.  It  is  occupied  mainly  by 
five  principal  tribes  of  Indians,  viz :  the  Cherokees,  the  Creeks, 
the  Seminoles,  the  Choctaws,  and  the  Chickasaws.  Besides  these, 
there  are  a  number  of  scattered  bands,  as  the  Osages,  Shawnees, 
Camanches,  &c.,  to  be  found  along  the  northern  and  western  borders 
of  the  territory. 

The  Cherokees  are  the  largest  of  all  these  tribes,  and  have  a  popu- 
lation of  upwards  of  twenty  thousand.  They  occupy  the  northern 
portion  of  the  territory,  that  which  borders  on  Kansas  and  the 
south-west  corner  of  Missouri.  The  Creeks  occupy  the  central  portion, 
and  have  a  population,  it  Js  supposed,  of  about  fifteen  thousand.  The 
Seminoles,  who  speak  the  same  language  with  the  Creeks,  occupy  the 
western  portion  of  their  territory,  but  their  population  does  not  ex- 
ceed five  thousand  or  six  thousand.  The  Choctaws  and  the  Chick- 
asaws occupy  all  the  country  bordering  on  the  Red  river,  which  sepa- 
rates their  territory  from  northern  Texas.  The  Choctaws  have  a 
population  of  twenty  thousand,  and  the  Chickasaws  of  eight  thousand ; 
both  speak  the  same  language,  and  in  all  important  respects  they  are 
the  same  people.  The  entire  population  of  the  Indian  territory,  in- 
cluding the  smaller  bands  above  referred  to,  probably  does  not  fall 
much  short  of  one  hundred  thousand. 

Each  of  the  principal  tribes  has  a  Chief  and  Legislative  Council  of 
its  own,  which  conduct  all  their  civil  and  municipal  affairs,  and  very 
much  as  they  are  done  in  the  States.  Until  within  a  few  months  past, 
the  United  States  Government  had  maintained  a  kind  of  protectorate 
over  these  tribes,  settling  international  diff'erences,  disbursing  their 
school  funds,  &c.  Recently  they  have  entered  into  new  treaties  with 
a  Commissioner  appointed  by  President  Davis,  which  if  ratified,  as  no 
doubt  will  be  the  case,  will  transfer  their  national  relationship  to  the 
Confederate  Government.  It  is  believed  that  this  change  of  rela- 
tionship on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  por- 
tion of  the  Creeks,  is  made  with  much  heartiness.  The  Choctaws 
have  already  furnished  one  regiment  for  the  Confederate  service,  and 
the  Cherokees  another,  both  of  which  are  in  camp,  and  will  no 
doubt  be  found  fighting  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  our  own  soldiers  in 
the  next  conflict  that  shall  take  place  in  that  part  of  the  country. 


THE   MODE     IN   WHICH    THE     MISSIONARY   WORK    HAS   HERETOFORE 
BEEN    CONDUCTED   AMONG   THE   INDIANS. 

The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States  has  been  conducting  Missions  among  all  these  tribes,  ex- 
cept the  Cherokees,  for  periods  varying  from  twelve  to  twenty  years. 
The  work  has  always  comprised  two  distinct  departments  of  labor, 
viz  :  the  educational  and  evangelical. 

There  were,  until  within  a  recent  period,  as  many  as  eight  board- 
ing-schools among  these  different  tribes,  comprising  in  all  more  than  * 
five  hundred  pupils,  and  of  both  sexes.  There  were  also  about  thirty 
teachers  and  other  missionary  helpers  conflected  with  these  schools, 
the  great  majority  of  whom  were  from  the  Northern  States.  These 
schools  were  supported  in  part  by  funds  belonging  to  the  Indians,  but 
disbursed  by  the  United  States  Government,  and  in  part  by  Mis- 
sionary funds — the  general  rule  being  one-fourth  from  the  Missionary 
treasury  and  three-fourths  from  the  fund  of  the  Indians.  The 
aggregate  cost  of  all  these  schools  was  about  thirty  thousand  dollars 
per  annum. 

In  the  evangelical  department  there  were  twelve  ordained  Mission- 
aries and  ten  native  preachers  and  licentiates,  besides  a  number  of 
other  native  helpers.  Most  of  these  brethren,  both  white  and  native, 
devoted  themselves  to  preaching  the  Gospel,  and  to  the  care  of  the 
churches.  All  of  this  class  received  -their  support  exclusively  from 
the  Missionary  treasury.  Two  of  the  native  preachers,  and  both  of 
them  men  of  rare  excellence  and  exemplary  piety,  have  recently,  in 
the  mysterious  providence  of  God,  been  removed  from  their  work  on 
earth  to  more  peaceful  abodes  above ;  and  three  of  the  Missionaries, 
for  reasons  which  will  be  assigned  in  the  sequel,  have  withdrawn  from 
their  woi'k  and  returned  to  their  homes  in  the  North. 

THE   RECENT   EXCITEMENT — ITS   CAUSE,   AND   THE   RESULTS. 

The  recent  excitement  in  the  Indian  country  was  but  the  extension 
of  the  same  wave  of  popular  excitement  that  had  previously  swept 
over  every  other  portion  of  the  Southern  country.  Vigilance  com- 
mittees  were  formed  here,  as  everywhere  else,  and  here,  as  elsewhere, 
undue  authority  was  sometimes  exercised  by  these  committees.  Du- 
ring the  period  of  greatest  excitement,  all  of  the  teachers,  except  three 
lay-superintendents  of  schools, •left  the  country  and  returned  to  the 


North.  Some,  because  the  term  of  service  for  which  they  engaged 
had  expired ;  others,  because  there  was  no  prospect  that  the  schools 
could  be  continued  for  the  present;  and  others,  because  their  sym- 
pathies were  with  the  North  in  the  great  strife  now  agitating  the 
country.  In  view  of  all  the  circumstances  of  the  ease,  it  is  not  to  be 
regretted  that  these  schools  have  been  suspended,  or  that  the  teachers 
have  left.  The  buildings,  and  all  the  apparatus  necessary  for  resum- 
ing these  schools,  remain  in  the  hands  of  the  Missionaries,  so  that  they 
may  be  recommenced  without  any  large  expenditure  of  money,  when- 
ever it  is  thought  expedient  to  do  so.  At  the  same  time,  a  good 
opportunity  will  be  aflFofded  for  remodeling  the  schools,  and  avaUing 
ourselves  of  all  the  modifications  and  alterations  that  may  be  suggested 
by  past  experience. 

In  relation  to  the  Missionaries,  four  of  them  withdrew  from  their 
work  during  the  excitement.  Three  of  these  returned  to  their  friends 
in  the  North,  but  the  fourth,  the  Rev.  C.  C.  Copeland,  withdrew  to 
Texas  with  his  family,  feeling  assured  that  the  storm  would  soon  pass 
over  and  allow  him  to  resume  a  work  in  which  his  heart  was  deeply 
interested,  and  to  which  he  had  devoted  the  best  years  of  his  life. 
No  violence  was  used  towards  any  of  the  Missionaries  or  teachers,  and 
no  threats  of  violence,  except  in  two  cases:  in  one,  by  a  number  of 
Texans,  who  had  no  right  to  interfere  in  the  affairs  of  the  Nation ; 
and  in  t]ie  other,  by  a  few  ill-disposed  Choctavfs,  who,  there  is  reason 
to  belief,  have  since  felt  heartily  ashamed  of  what  was  done  under 
circumUmces  of  peculiar  excitement.  The  property  seized  at  Talla- 
hassee, in  the  Creek  Natfon,  was  no  doubt  done  under  the  impression 
that  it  belonged  to  the  Board  in  New  York,  and  was  therefore  a  legiti- 
mate prize. for  them.  It  was  not  in  my  power  to  visit  that  station,\ut 
I  wrote  a  letter  to  the  principal  Chief,  informing  him  that  this  was 
the  property  of  the  Southern,  as  well  as  the  Northern  Church,  and 
that  the  matter  had  been  referred  to  the  Confederate  Government; 
but  expressed  the  hope  that  it  would  be  amicably  settled,  without  the 
interposition  of  a  third  party,  of  which  there  is  very  little  doubt. 

INTERVIEW   WITH   THE    MISSIONARIES— ADDRESS  TO   THE  CHOCTAV 
COUNCIL THE   RESULTS. 

,  By  previous  arrangement  all  the  Missionaries  and  native  assistants, 
except  ono,  met  me,  on  the  5th  of  October,  at  Doaksville,  the  capital 
of  the  Choctaw  Nation.     This  gave  me  the  opportunity  of  a  free  and 


10 

full  couference  witli  these  brethren  on  all  matters  connected  with  the 
Missionary  work,  and  led  to  many  important  suggestions  in  relation  to 
its  future  prosecution,  but  which  cannot  be  detailed  here  without 
extending  this  communication  to  an  undue  length.  The  Choctaw 
Council  was  fortunately  in  session  at  the  same  time,  and  gave  me  the 
opportunity  not  only  of  addressing  them,  but  most  of  the  chief  men 
of  the  nation,  who  were  also  here  at  that  time.  In  that  address  I 
assured  them  of  the  great  interest  felt  by  Southern  Christians  in  the 
Missionary  work  going  on  in  their  country,  and  reminded  them  that 
the  Missionaries  now  remaining  among  them  had  given  the  strongest 
proofs,  in  years  past,  of  their  general  sympathy  with  the  South,  and 
that  they  had  perseveriugly  resisted  all  the  attempts  that  had  been 
made  to  bring  them  under  the  influence  of  Northern  fanaticism. 
These  statements,  there  is  reason  to  know,  were  received  in  the  kind- 
est manner  by  the  Choctaws.  The  day  after,  two  of  the  district  Chiefs 
waited  on  me,  and  assured  me  that  not  only  were  all  obstacles  .to  Mr. 
Copeland's  return  to  the  Nation  removed,  but  that  the  Choctaws  very 
much  desired  that  he  would  do  so  as  soon  as  possible.  The  Choctaw 
Council  has  since  passed  a  very  flattering  note  inviting  Mr.  Copeland's 
return.  This  he  has  since  done,  and  the  Missionaries,  when  I  left  the 
country,  were  under  the  impression  that  they  would  be  permitted  to 
prosecute  their  work  in  more  peace  and  comfort  than  they  had  done 
for  many  years  past. 

THE    MISSIONARIES    ENTITLED   TO    THE   CONFIDENCE   OF   THE 
SOUTHERN    CHURCHES. 

I  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that  the  Missionary  brethren  now 
laboring  in  the  Indian  country  are  not  only  entitled  to  the  confidence 
and  kind  feeling  of  Southern  Christians,  but  to  their  highest  respect 
and  veneration.  No  set  of  men  have  passed  through  greater  trials,  or 
endured  more  hatred  and  obloquy  in  defence  of  those  great  principles 
of  truth  and  justice  for  which  we  ourselves  are  contending  with  so 
much  earnestness  at  the  present  moment.  For  ten  consecutive  years 
the  whole  moral  force  of  the  New  England  Church  was  employed  to 
induce  them  to  adopt  their  fanatical  views,  instead  of  the  plain  teach- 
ings of  Cod's  Word;  and  when  all  this  failed,  they  and  their  fam-, 
ilies  were  rudely  cast  off",  without  any  known  means  of  support.  And 
when  our  present  troubles  first  broke  forth,  they  were  the  first  in  all 


11 


that  region  of  country  to  cast  in  their  lots  with  the  South,  and  no 
doubt  their   prompt  and   decided  action  had  much  to  do  in  givino- 
fixedness  to  the  purpose  of  the  Indians  themselves.     But,  ^yhat  stiil 
more  redounds  to  their  praise,  they  have  been  devoted,  earnest  and 
persevering   laborers    in    the    blaster's  vineyard;  some  of  them   for 
periods  varying  from  twenty  to  thirty-five,  and  others  for  more  than 
forty  years.     Their  labors,  too,  have  been  owned  by  the  great  Head  of 
the  Church,  and  crowned  with  the  most  cheering  results.     The  names 
of  Kingsbury,  Byington  and  Wright,  are  fntimately  interwoven  with 
the  earliest  missionary  efforts   of  this  country,  and  are  destined  to 
become  hist<,ric  names  in  the  annals  of  the  Choctaw  nation.     Hotchkin, 
Copeland,  Stark,  lleid,  Balentine,  Lilley,  and    Loughridge,  though 
hey  entered  upon  the  work  at  a  later  period,   have   labored  with  no 
loss  fidelity  or  success.     There  is  also  a  noble  band  of  native  laborers 
some  of  whom,  though  unknown  to  fame,  are  destined  to  shine  brightly 
in  the  heavenly  firmament. 

SUCCESS   OP   THESE    MISSIONS. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  this  subject,   but   it  deserves  more 
special  notice.     Modern  Missions  nowhere  can   boast  of  greater  or 
more  important  results  than  among  the  Indians,  and  especially  among 
he  Choctaws.     Dr.  Kingsbury,  who  is  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  is 
he  father  and  founder  of  this  Mission.     When   he  first  commenced 
h.s  labors  among  them,  in  the  year  1818,  he  found  them  in  the  lowest 
dephs  of  barbarism.     They  had  not  acquired  the   first   rudiments  of 
cmlized  hfe.     Evidences   of  the  grossest  idolatry  and  superstition 
were  to  be  seen  on  every  hand.     Intemperance,  to  the  extent  of  their 
ability  to  procure  the   means  of  intoxication,  was  the  universal  habit 
among  men,  women  and  children.     There  was  not  a  single  individual 
in  the  who  e  nation,  except  two  or  three  mixed  bloods,  that  could 
read,  and  the  only  professor  of  religion,  was  the  old  African,  Lester 
who  still   survives,  and  maintains  a  good  character  for  piety      But 
what  a  change  has  come  over  this  people  !  .  Go  among  them  now,  in 
their  far-off  Western  homes,  and  you  will  find  the   humblest  am^ng 
them  Imng  in  decent  and  comfortable  log  cabins;  not  a  trace  of  their 
former  Idolatry  will  be  seen;  a  good  little  farm,  well  stocked  with 
pigs   cows  and  ponies,  may  be  seen  in  connection  with  almost  every 
dwelhng;  intemperance  is  little  known,  and  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits 
IS  interdicted  by  law;  industry  and  thrift  may  be  seen  in  every  direc- 


12 

tion.  Rut  their  most  marked  progress  is  in  education  and  religion. 
It  is  confidently  asserted,  by  those  who  have  the  means  of  forming  a 
correct  judgment,  that  at  least  two-thirds  of  those  who  have  attained 
to  a  suitable  age  are  able  to  read  and  write  ;  whilst  the  present  church 
membership,  to  say  nothing  of  those  belonging  to  other  branches  of 
the  Church,  or  of  those  who  have  gone  to  their  rest  in  heaven,  is 
about  sixteen  hundred  j  and  among  no  people  have  I  ever  witnessed 
more  strikings  proofs  of  the  existence  of  sincere,  humble  and  consis- 
tent piety.  If  these  are  not  results  in  which  the  Church  may  rejoice, 
we  know  of  nothing  on  earth  that  may  be  a  legitimate  subject  of  their 

joy- 

THE    WORK   NEEDS   TO   BE    SUSTAINED. 

But  whatever  may  have  been  achieved  by  Missions  among  these 
people,  much  still  remains  to  be  done.  It  is  not  possible,  nor  is  it 
desirable,  to  attempt  to  perpetuate  the  nationality  of  these  different 
tribes.  The  tide  of  white  population  is  fast  gathering  around  their 
borders,  and  will  ere  long  break  over  all  opposing  barriers.  No 
treaties,  no  measures  of  prudence,  and  no  theories  of  political 
economy,  can  long  prevent  this.  What  Christian  philanthropy  de- 
mands, in  view  of  this  inevitable  result,  is,  that  these  people  shall  be 
so  enlightened  and  elevated,  that  they  will  be  taken  up  by  the  white 
population,  and  be  identified  with  them,  and  not  be  crushed  out,  as  is 
likely  to  be  the  case  with  the  suialler  tribes  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska. 
This  process  of  identification  is  rapidly  going  on  in  the  South- Western 
territory  at  the  present  time,  and  will  continue  to  do  so,  just  in  pro- 
portion as  the  Indians  are  improved  and  elevated.  What  seems  to  be 
particularly  needed  at  the  present  moment  is,  to  reinforce  the  Choctaw 
Mission,  by  sending  out  two  Missionaries  to  reoccupy  important  sta- 
tions that  have  recently  been  vacated;  by  furnishing  one  additional 
Missionary  for  the  Seminole,  and  another  for  the  Creek  Mission,  and 
two  to  commence  the  work  anew  among  the  Cherokees.  The  last-men- 
tioned tribe,  the  largest  of  all,  are  now  very  nearly  without  any  Mis- 
sionary labor  whatever — the  Northern  Missionaries  formerly  laboring 
among  them  having  been  withdrawn  or  expelled  from  the  country. 

A  representative  from  this  people  is  on  the  floor  of  the  Assembly, 
and  will  make  known  their  wishes  on  this  subject  Besides  this,  pro- 
vision should  be  made  for  the  support  of  a  few  small  boarding-schools 
among  these  different  tribes,  the  chief  object  of  which  will  be  to  train 


13 

native  agents,  into  whose  hands  the  whole  work  may  ultimately  be 
committed.  To  carry  out  these  su:;gestions,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
appoint  six  new  Missionaries,  and  the  same  number  of  teachers;  and  to 
sustain  the  whole  work,  will  require  not  less  than  twenty  thousand 
dollars.  j 

CONCLUSION. 

Such  are  the  facts  connected  with  the  history,  the  present  condi- 
tion, and  the  future  prospects,  of  these  Missions.  They  have  been  so 
arranged  and  presented  as  to  give  the  Assembly  a  comprehensive  view 
of  the  whole  subject,  and  so  that  they  may  have  all  the  information 
necessary  to  form  a  sound  judgment  in  relation  to  what  further  should 
be  done.     - 

The  Indian  tribes,  in  the  providence  of  Go  J,  have  been  thrown 
upon  the  care  of  the  Southern  Church.  There  is  no  other  source  to 
which  they  can  now  look  for  the  ble.ssiiigs  of  education  and  Christian- 
ity. They  have  strong  claims  upon  <iur  aid  and  sympathy.  We  and 
our  kindred  are  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  rich  inheritance  which  was 
once  exclusively  theirs.  Many  wrongs  and  injuries  have  been  inflicted 
upon  them  in  days  that  are  past,  and  the  only  reparation  that  can  now 
be  made,  is  to  impart  to  them  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel.  They  have 
given  the  strongest  proof  of  their  capacity  for  improvement,  and  their 
sympathies  are  all  with  us  in  the  great  conflict  now  agitating  the  land. 
But,  what  is  still  more  important  to  us  as  a  Christian  people,  is,  that  the 
smiles  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  have  attended  this  work  in  a 
most  especial  manner  from  its  first  inception  up  to  the  present  moment. 
The  best  interests  of  this  people,  therefore,  the  honor  and  glory  of  the 
Redeemer,  as  well  as  our  own  duty  and  obligation,  bind  us  to  this 
work ;  and,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  cheerfulness  and  liberality  with 
which  it  has  been  sustained  the  last  six  months,  there  is  no  doubt  but 
the  whole  Southern  Church  demands  that  it  should  be  carried  forward. 


ACTIOX  OF  THE  GEXERAL  ASSEMBLY 


In  regard  to  tlie  report  and  minutes  of  the  Provisional  Comn^ittee, 
referred  to  them,  the  Committee  offer  as  their  report  the  following 
resolutions,  viz: 

1.  Resolved,  That  three  thousand  copies  of  this  report  he  printed, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  Foreign  ^Missions, 
and  we  earnestly  recommend  that  it  be  read  to  all  our  congregations 
on  some  suitable  occasion,  that  all  our  people  may  learn  directly  its 
important  facts,  and  the  work  to  which  the  Master  calls  them:  and 
that  the  minutes  be  committed  to  the  Executive  Committee  to  be 
appointed,  and  entered  on  their  book  of  records,  as  an  introduction  to 
their  own  minutes. 

2.  That  the  Assembly  accepts,  with  joyful  gratitude  to  God,  the 
care  of  those  Missions  to  our  South- Western  Indian  tribes,  the  Choc- 
taws,  Chickasaws,  Creeks,  Semiuoles,  and  Cherokees,  thus  thrown 
upon  them  by  His  providence;  Missions  whose  whole  history  has  been 
signalized  by  3,  degree  of  success  attending  few  other  modern  Missions; 
to  a  people  comprising  near  seventy  thousand  souls,  to  whom  we  are 
bound  by  obligations  of  special  tenderness  and  strength,  and  whose 
spiritual  interests  must  ever  be  dear  to  the  Christians  of  this  land;  a 
people  destined,  ere  long,  to  share  with  us  the  full  enjoyment  of  the 
social  and  political  blessings  for  which  we  are  now  struggling;  and 
assures  those  people  and  the  beloved  Missionaries  that  have  so  long 
and  successfully  labored  among  them,  of  our  fixed  purpose,  under  God, 
to  sustain  and  carry  forward  the  blessed  work  whose  foundations  have 
been  so  nobly  and  so  deeply  laid.  We,  therefore,  decidedly  approve 
of  the  recommendation  of  this  report,  that  six  new  3Iissionaries  be  sent 
to  this  field  speedily,  two  of  them  to  commence  a  new  Mission  among 
the  Cherokees,  and  that  a  few  small  boarding-schools  be  established, 
with  the  special  design  of  raising  up  a  native  agency. 

3.  That  in  the  striking  fact,  tliat  the  same  upheaving  and  overturn- 
ing that  have  called  us  into  existence  as  a  distinct  organization,  and 


15 

shut  us  out  from  present  access  to  the  distant  nations,  has  also  laid 
thus  upon  our  hearts  and  hands  these  interesting  Missions,  with  their 
fifteen  stations,  their  twelve  ordained  ministers  and  sixteen  hundred 
communicants ;.  so  that,  at  the  very  moment  of  commencing  our  separate 
existence,  we  find  them  forming,  in  fact,  an  organic  part  of  our  body; 
and,  also,  in  the  gratifying  promptitude  with  which  our  churches  have 
advanced  to  their  support;  the  Assembly  recognizes  most  gratefully 
the  clear  foreshadowing  of  the  Divine  purpose  to  make  our  beloved 
Church  an  eminently  missionary  Church,  and  a  heart-stirring  call  upon 
all  her  people  to  engage  in  this  blessed  work  with  new  zeal  and  self- 
denial. 

4.  The  Assembly  further  rejoices  to  know  that  there  are  a  few  of 
the  sons  of  our  Southern  Zion  who  are  laboring  in  distant  lands;  and 
approves  heartily  of  the  action  of  the  Committee  in  forwarding  funds 
for  the  support  of  the  3Iissions  in  which  they  are  engaged,  trusting 
that  the  Committee  to  be  appointed  will,  as  soon  as  possible,  ascertain 
the  facts  on  this  subject  necessary  to  their  future  guidance;  and 
take  occasion  hence  to  direct  the  longing  eyes  of  the  whole  Church  to 
those  broad  fields  where  Satan  reigns  almost  undisturbed — in  India, 
Siam,  China,  Japan,  and  especially  in  Africa  and  South  America — 
which  have  peculiar  claims  upon  us,  as  fields  where  we  are  soon  to  be 
called  to  win  glorious  victories,  for  our  King,  if  we  prove  faithful; 
and  solemnly  charges  them  that  now,  while  in  the  convulsions  that  are 
shaking  the  earth  we  hear  the  tread  of  His  coming  footsteps  to  take 
the  kingdom  bought  with  His  blood,  they  should  be  preparing  to  meet 
Him  with  their  whole  hearts  and  their  largest  ofi'erings.  We  would 
further  remind  them,  in  this  connection,  that  the  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars required  in  this  report  for  the  India  Missions,  is  by  no  means  all 
that  the  exigencies  of  the  cause,  even  during,  the  coming  year,  will 
probably  demand. 

5.  FinaUj/,  The  General  Assembly  desires  distinctly  and  delib- 
erately to  inscribe  on  our  Church's  banner,  as  she  now  first  unfurls  it 
to  the  world,  in  immediate  connection  with  the  headships  of  her  Lord, 
His  last  command,  "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel  to 
every  creature,"  regarding  this  as  the  great  end  of  her  organization, 
and  obedience  to  it  as  the  indispensable  condition  of  her  Lord's  prom- 
ised presence ;  and  as  that  one  great  comprehensive  object,  a  proper 
conception  of  whose  vast  magnitude  and  grandeur  is  the  only  thing 
which,  in  connection  with  the  love  of  Christ,  can  ever  sufficiently 


16 

arouse  her  energies  and  develope  her  resources,  so  as  to  cause  her  to 
carry  on  with  the  vipror  and  efficiency  that  true  fealty  to  her  Lord 
demands  those  other  agencies  necessary  to  her  internal  growth  and 
home  prosperity.  The  claims  of  this  cause  ought,  therefore,  to  be 
kept  constantly  before  the  minds  of  our  people,  and  pressed  upon  their 
consciences,  and  every  miuister  owes  it  to  his  people,  and  to  a  perish- 
ing world,  to  give  such  instruction  on  this  subject  as  he  is  able;  and 
to  this  end,  the  monthly  concert  ought  to  be  devoutly  observed  by 
every  church  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  each  month,  for  the  purpose  of 
missionary  instruction  as  well  as  prayer,  and  it  would  be  well  to  accom- 
pany their  prayers  with  their  offerings.  To  the  same  end,  the  Assem- 
bly earnestly  enjoins  upon  all  our  ministers,  and  ruling  elders  and 
deacons,  and  Sabbath-School  teachers,  and  especially  upon  parents, 
particular  attention  to  our  precious  youth,  in  training  them  to  feel  a 
deep  interest  in  this  work,  and  not  only  to  form  habits  of  systematic 
benevolence,  but  to  feel  and  respond  to  the  claims  of  Jesus  upon  them 
for  personal  service  in  this  field.  And  should  a  Sabbath-School  paper 
be  established,  they  recommeud  that  at  least  one  page  be  exclusively 
devoted  to  this  subject. 


ORGANIZATION    OF    TIIE    COMMITTEE    OF 
FOREIGN   MISSIONS. 


PREAMBLE. 

Being  deeply  impressed  witli  a  sense  of  the  obligation  laid 
upon  the  Church  by  her  great  Head,  to  "go  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature,"  and  the  consequent 
claims  which  the  various  Pagan,  Mohammedan,  Jewish,  and  l^apal 
nations  of  the  earth  have  upon  the  Church  for  the  blessings  of  a  pure 
Gospel;  feeling,  too,  that  one  of  the  great  ends  of  thod^nstitution  of 
the  Church  was,  that  she  might,  in  her  collective,  organized  strength, 
impart  the  knowledge  of  salvation  to  all  the  kindreds  and  peoples  and 
tongues  among  men  ;  and  that,  so  far  as  it  has  been  revealed  to  man, 
there  can  be  no  salvation  for  the  heathen  witliout  such  knowledge ; 
remembering,  also,  the  many  tokens  of  the  Divine  favor  bestowed  upon 
the  efforts  of  Southern  Christians,  while  laboring  in  connection  with 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States,  and  that  an  important 
portion  of  that  work,  in  the  providebee  of  God,  had  been  laid  upon 
their  shoulders,  even  before  they  had  a  distinct  ecclesiastical  organiza- 
tion of  their  own  5  and  in  view  of  the  further  fact  that  God,  by  His 
prdvidence,  has  for  some  years  been  removing  the  obstacles  that  have 
heretofore  prevented  the  introduction  of  the  Gospel  among  the  great 
heathen  nations  of  the  earth ;  and  has,  at  the  same  time,  bestowed 
upon  the  Southern  Church  all  the  means  and  agents  necessary  for 
taking  a  large  and  a  distinguished  share  in  the  great  work  of  evangel- 
izing these  nations;  therefore, 

Resolved,  1.  That  this  General  Assembly  proceed  to  appoint  an 
Executive  Committee,  with  its  proper  officers,  to  carry  on  this  work, 
and  that  the  character  and  functions  of  this  Committee  be  composed 
in  the  following  articles,  as  its  Constitution,  viz  : 

Art.  I.  This  Committee  shall  be  known  as  the  "  Executive  Commit- 
tee of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Churth  in  the  Coufed- 
3 


18 

erate  States  of  America."  It  shall  consist  of  a  Secretary,  who  shall  be 
styled  the  Secretary  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  who  shall  be  the  Com- 
mittee's organ  of  communication  with  the  Assembly,  and  with  all  por- 
tions of  this  work  entrusted  to  this  Committee ;  a  Treasurer,  and  nine 
other  members,  three  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  be  Ruling  Elders  or 
Deacons,  or  private  members  of  the  Church,  all  appointed  annually  by 
the  General  Assembly,  and  shall  be  directly  amenable  to  it  for  the 
faithful  and  efl&cient  discharge  of  the  duties  entrusted  to  its  care. 
Vacancies  occurring  ad  interim,  it  shall  fill,  if  necessary. 

Art.  II.  It  shall  meet  once  a  month,  or  oftener,  if  necessary,  at  the 
call  of  the  Chairman  or  Secretary.  Five  members  may  constitute  a 
quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business.  It  may  enact  by-laws  for  its 
government,  the  same  being  subject  to  the  revisal  and  approval  of  the 
General  Assembly. 

Art.  III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  take 
the  direction  and  control  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  work,  subject  to 
such  instruction  as  may  be  given  by  the  General  Assembly  from  time 
to  time;  to  appoint  Missionaries  and  assistant  Missionaries;  to  desig- 
nate their  fields  of  labor  and  to  provide  for  their  support;  to  receive 
the  reports  of  the  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and  to  give  such  directions, 
in  relation  to  their  respective  duties,  as  may  seem  necessary;  to  autho- 
rize all  appropriations  and  expenditures  of  money,  including  the  sal- 
aries of  officers ;  to  communicate  to  the  churches,  from  time  to  time, 
such  information  about  the  Missionary  work  as  may  seem  important  to 
be  known ;  and  to  lay  before  the  General  Assembly,  from  year  to  year, 
a  full  report  of  the  whole  work,  and  of  their  receipts  and  expenditures, 
together  with  their  book  of  minutes,  for  examination. 

Resolved,  2.  That  this  Committee  shall  be  located  at  Columbia, 
South  Carolina. 


EXECUTIVE   COMMITTEE, 


J.  LEIGHTON  WILSON",  D.  D.,  Secretary. 
JAMES  "WOODROW,  Tkxasurer. 

JAMES  H.  THORNWELL,  D.  D. 

GEORGE  HOWE,  D.  D. 

JOHN  B.  ADGER,  D.  D. 

A.  A.  PORTER. 

F.  P.  MULLALLY. 

H.  MULLER. 

F.  W.  MoMASTER. 

C.  R.  BRYCE. 

CHARLES  S.  VENABLE. 


Date  Due 

AUG26  'bt 

^Mi2a-62 

. 

- 

